Floor-clamp.



PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904. F. W. HAMMOND & F. E. HENDERSON.

FLOOR CLAMP. APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 24. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

v n N 2%; 2 7/ 1% am Q cmuL Witneowo (L a UL UNITED STATES Patented August 30, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK W. HAMMOND AND FRA KE. HENDERSON, OF ooMsTooK,

NEBRASKA.

FLOOR-CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 76.9,076,idated August 30, 1904.

Application filed March 24, 1904:.

To all whom 'itJH/G/Z/ concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANK W. HAMMOND and FRANK E. HENDERSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Comstock, in the county of Custer and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floor-Clamps; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in floor-clamps; and it consists of certain features of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, convenient, and effective device of this character by which the boards of floorings, sidings, and ceilings of a building may be closely joined, and, if desired, blind-nailed with ease and facility.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device. Fig. 2 isa side elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 4: is a cross-section, and Fig. 5 is a detail of the grooved jaw.

1 in the drawings denotes theframe of the device, consisting, preferably, of a strap of sheet metal bent to form an arched portion 2 and upwardly-extending arms 3, the said arched portion comprising parallel legs L and 5 to straddle a sleeper or piece of studding and a transverse shelf or bridge plate 6 lying between and intermediately of said arms andlegs. The whole of the frame may, however,

be formed of a casting or" constructed in any other suitable manner. Theleg 4c is made longer than the leg 5 for a purpose hereinafter described. From the rear of the bridgepiece 6 projects an extension 7, which forms therewith a bed ortable for the shank 8 of a clamping-jaw 9, which slides in a grooved or slotted guideway 10 formed in said table and through an upright slotted guide 11 at the rear end. of the table. The forward movement of the shank is limited by a stop-screw 12 at the rear of the same, which engages the guide 11, and undue rearward movement is prevent- Serial No. 193,826- (No model.)

ed by the jaw itself engaging the front edge of the bridge-plate 6. As shown, the'jaw is formed with a transverse groove 13 and a slot 14 in the upper wall of the groove. This groove receives the tongue of the board to be adjusted, and the slot permits of the introduction of nails for blind-nailing. On shank 8 are rack-teeth 15, which mesh with a toothed segment. 16 on one end of an operating-lever 17 said lever being pivoted between the arms 3 on a bolt 18.

The long leg 4 of the frame has extending outwardly therefrom a vertical bracket-piece 19, to which is fulcrumed by a pivot bolt or pin 20 a lever 21, and to this lever is pivotally connected, as by a pin or bolt 22, a dog 23.

This dog is adjustable in a slot 2 1 in the leg4 andis sharpened'to a point at its free end, forming a spur to penetrate the timber straddled by the legs 4 and 5 to fasten the frame thereto. By placing the bracket-piece 19 on the longer leg i a greater bearing is afforded for said dog and lever.

In operation the frame is set astride a sleeper or piece of studding, the dog 23 forced therein by the lever 21, thus clamping the frame thereto, and the jaw 9 engaged with the tongued side of the board and forced forward by the lever 17 to cause the grooved side of said board to tightly engage the tongued side of the board previously laid, and then the board is nailed down, after which the jaw 9 is retracted." The groove 13 and slot 14 in the jaw 9 permit blind-nailing at this stage, if desired.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of-construction maybe resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention. I

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

A floor-clamp comprising a frame having an lever fulcrun'ied to said bracket, and a dog connected to said lever and operating in an opening in the leg, substantially as described. In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK V. HAMMOND. FRANK E. HENDERSON. Witnesses:

THOMAS S. JAoKsoN, AMANDA J ACKSON. 

